Press Release: Corrib campaigner on hunger strike in Castlerea prison
mayo |
rights, freedoms and repression |
press release
Thursday June 20, 2013 02:07
by Rossport Solidarity Camp
Press Release
For immediate release
Issued by Rossport Solidarity Camp
20/06/13
Liam heffernan
Corrib campaigner on hunger strike in Castlerea prison
On Monday 17th of June Corrib campaigner Liam Heffernan began a hunger strike in protest against his continued detention in Castlerea prison.
On Wednesday morning the 12th of June Liam Heffernan - a campaigner from the Rossport Solidarity Camp - was arrested at Aughoose, County Mayo under sections 8 and 9 of the Public Order Act for allegedly obstructing Shell construction vehicles without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.
At Belmullet Garda station Mr. Heffernan was offered to enter into a bail bond with the condition that he stay away from the Shell tunnelling compound at Aughoose. After refusing this extraordinary condition, he was remanded to Catlerea prison, Co. Roscommon for two days until the court sat on Friday morning last.
In Harristown Court, Castlerea, Mr. Heffernan, defending himself, read a statement to the court saying that he believed he was being illegally detained and informed the Judge of some of the history of the Corrib gas project and his reasons for protesting at Aughoose. The Judge replied that he should take up these issues with the High Court and/or the Government. At this point Mr. Heffernan accepted to enter into the bail conditions set out by the Judge and to appear before Belmullet District Court on the 10th of July.
The Judge however found problems with Mr. Heffernan's signature and remanded the campaigner in custody until the next sitting of Harristown court.
Today, Thursday the 20th of June, marks Liam's ninth day in prison and fourth day on hunger strike. Supporters of Liam are invited to attend Harristown Court, Castlerea, tomorrow, Friday the 21st of June at 10.30am.
ENDS
For verification and comment
Terrence Conway: 086 0866264
Maura Harrington: 087 9591474
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Comments (7 of 7)
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Solidarity Liam! :-)
He should take advice from the Judge and go to the High Court.
what did he write on the bail bond, to get put in custody???
He needs to Contact Peter from Freemans Legal Services at http://www.freemanlegalservices.com/ on how to proceed under Common Law.
none of that freeman junk here please! This is a serious thread
Corrib campaigner released from Castlerea prisonPress release - Issued by the Rossport Solidarity Camp - 21st June 2013Corrib campaigner released from Castlerea prison
Liam Heffernan released after 10 days imprisonment and 5 days on hunger strike
Today at Harristown court, Castlrea Co. Roscommon, Liam Walsh Heffernan (28) of Castlebar Co. Mayo, was released from Castlerea prison after 10 days in custody. For the last 5 days of his imprisonment he had been on hunger strike protesting against his detention and the extraordinary conditions of the bail terms that he had thus far refused.
Mr Heffernan was arrested on the 12th of June while protesting against the Shell Corrib gas project at Aughoose Co. Mayo. At Belmullet Garda station he was charged under sections 8 and 9 of the Public Order Act. He was offered bail, with the extraordinary condition that he stay away from Aughoose, site of the Shell tunnelling works for the Corrib gas project. Aughoose is also the location of the Rossport Solidarity Camp and is a central focus of protest against the project. Mr Heffernan refused the bail conditions, and has been held on remand until his release today.
On the 17th of June Mr Heffernan began a hunger strike against his extraordinary bail terms and his continued detention. This morning at a bail hearing in Harristown court, Mr Heffernan, representing himself, made an application to the Judge Browne to change the terms of the bond, in order to permit him to return to Aughoose. The Judge said that he was unable to alter the bail terms in that court. Mr Heffernan then signed the bail bond, stating that he would challenge the bail terms and contest the public order charges. Mr Heffernan's first appearance in relation to the charges is on the 10th of July, Belmullet district court.
Upon his release Mr Heffernan said: "The state has attempted to limit my freedom of speech and movement, by applying these extraordinary conditions on my bail. People in Mayo have suffered decades of injustice because of the imposition of the Corrib gas project. What we do with our natural resources should be open to national debate, and for any project to proceed, the consent of the people must be sought."
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While I'm very pleased (for several reasons) to learn that Mr Heffernan is now out of jail, I am nevertheless very puzzled (and horrified!!) by the way our legal profession appears to be acting regarding such matters overall.
Point 1: "The state has attempted to limit my freedom of speech and movement" (from Tue Jun 25, 2013 21:03 comment)
My response: Article 13 (1) of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
"Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state."
The excerpt just above has come from the following UN www location:
http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml#a13
===
Point 2: "What we do with our natural resources should be open to national debate, and for any project to proceed, the consent of the people must be sought" (also from Tue Jun 25, 2013 21:03 comment).
My response: exactly correct I would say, thanks to Article 6.1 of Constitution of the Republic of Ireland, which very clearly stipulates:
"All powers of government, legislative, executive and judicial, derive, under God, from the people, whose right it is to designate the rulers of the State and, in final appeal, to decide all questions of national policy, according to the requirements of the common good."
===
Point 3: Allowing for Articles 13 (1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Article 6.1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Ireland -- the SUPREME LAW of the Republic of Ireland -- referred to above, why is Mr Heffernan, "representing himself"?
I can't help feeling it's because our grossly corrupt legal profession is STILL refusing to take on cases which involves government crime of the MOST SERIOUS kinds? In other words, continues to refuse to represent people in our courts of law who try to challenge such government crime using legal representation of the kind which takes full account of national and international HUMAN RIGHTS LAW (based on the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights principles completed in 1948), and/or of our own Republic of Ireland CONSTITUTIONAL LAW (which came into being in the late 1930s): to protect all who seek and urgently need good quality help from the members of our legal profession.
If I'm wrong, regarding my conclusions outlined in the paragraph immediately above, I hope someone will correct me.
Related Link:
"Chief Justice Susan Denham, government corruption, crime, cover ups, Article 6.1, Bunreacht na hEireann, unconstitutional legislation, activities, William Finnerty ..."
http://tinyurl.com/p2e6tnt